Happy New Year! Do you have certification on your New Years Resolution list? If so, you are going to LOVE This! The Microsoft East Region ITE’s (IT Pro Evangelists) will, over the next couple months, be putting out a blog post series to give you all the information you need to take and pass the 70-659 Microsoft Server Virtualization Exam. To join the ranks of the most skilled IT virtualization professionals, make your first (or next) certification goal begin with Exam 70-659: MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization.

Passing this exam earns you the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and proves your technical expertise in server virtualization. We will point you to the material you need to get up to speed quickly. We will help you setup your lab environment (including giving you the software). We will be building the content for you to make sure there are no gaps. Not only that, but we are scheduling a monthly “Q & A” real-time chat so if you get stuck setting up your lab, you will have someone to help you keep moving forward. In case you were wondering about the cost, It’s FREE! Think you might want even more in-depth hands-on training? We’ll provide information on how you can get this from some of our training partners, and possibly even provide some discounts.

So what does this program look like?

We broke down the content that is covered on the exam and each of us has committed to finding that online content and linking to it, or building it, if it does not already exist. We will publish the content in the sequence it is displayed (more or less) in the “Skills Measured” under the 70-659 Exam Information page. If we get requests to post the content faster (like as it is ready) we may not post in order. If you want to follow it in sequence, that is fine too. We have leveraged the skills measured page to create this post which we will use as a reference page to the 70-659 content. A copy of this post can always be found at https://aka.ms/70-659. We will update each line in the list below with a link to the actual content as the content is published (expected date for first technical post 1/9/2012 [give or take ]). We expect new content to come online (almost) daily [with the exception of some weeks that are filled with national events] so we would hopefully get all content published sometime in February (we hope) or March at the latest. We will include all items listed below as well as other things that you might find on the test. Getting certified is more than knowing the technical content. We will also share some test taking tips, studying tips and other things we think you will find helpful as you get certified on Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization.

Skills Being Measured…What’s on the Exam?

This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below. The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam. The higher the percentage, the more questions you are likely to see on that content area on the exam. The information after “This objective may include but is not limited to” is intended to further define or scope the objective by describing the types of skills and topics that may be tested for the objective. However, it is not an exhaustive list of skills and topics that could be included on the exam for a given skill area. You may be tested on other skills and topics related to the objective that are not explicitly listed here.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring Performance and Resource Optimization (PRO), monitoring the environment by using System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2, configuring event triggers, allocating resources by using Virtual Machine Manager, monitoring performance and diagnosing issues by using Performance Monitor or Resource Monitor

3.2-Configure delegation of rights.

This objective may include but is not limited to: creating user policies for Self Service Portal, creating and managing templates, managing and replicating libraries in Virtual Machine Manager 3.4

3.3-Create roles and configure authorization rights.

This objective may include but is not limited to: creating roles and delegating rights using Authorization Manager (AzMan), delegating rights manually

3.4-Manage non-Hyper-V-aware virtualization hosts.

This objective may include but is not limited to: managing ESX/VI3 VMware hosts by using Virtual Machine Manager, managing Virtual Server 2005 R2 hosts using Virtual Machine Manager

This objective may include but is not limited to: activating and deactivating Remote Desktop License Service, installing and revoking client access licenses (CALs), reporting on CAL usage

6.2-Configure RD Connection Broker.

This objective may include but is not limited to: installing the RD Connection Broker, configuring DNS for Connection Broker, configuring Connection Broker farms, integrating with RD Virtualization Host role service

6.4-Configure RD Gateway.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring RD Gateway, integrating RD Gateway with network access protection (NAP), configuring authentication authorization

6.5-Configure RD Web Access.

This objective may include but is not limited to: configuring RD Web Access, configuring authentication options (forms, single sign-on), configuring per-user RemoteApp program filtering, configuring public and private computer options

Please help us make this a great program by spreading the news and offering comments on how we can make it better!

Build Your Test Labs Out – Download Links for Evaluation Software!!

Need a refresher before you take an exam? The Virtualization Jump Start program helps you gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to take and pass Microsoft Certification Exam 70-659: Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Virtualization. It is only $99.00 and it includes a test voucher which saves you $150.00 so it is a no brainer

Ready to demonstrate your skills? Get certified free of charge by stepping up to the Virtualization Challenge Learn more >>

Already an expert?Go further with MCITP Virtualization Administrator Certification. After passing the 70-659 you are one third of the way there. Are you already experienced with Windows Server 2008? Are you ready to meet the future head-on with a virtualization certification? Get started today by becoming a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), Virtualization Administrator.